Bastick intrigued by what Kerry will bring to the table

DENIS Bastick says there’s no reminders needed for anyone in the Dublin camp just how formidable a side Kerry are, despite the Metropolitans dominance over their Kingdom counterparts in recent seasons.

Dublin have won all three of the sides’ championship meetings since 2011, and have also been on top in their league meetings in recent years, including an 11-point league final win last April, but Bastick says no one, including the younger members of the squad, will be taking Kerry for granted this weekend.

“The lads, even though they are younger – they are experienced enough and they are intelligent enough. By no means are they taking our small bit of dominance over Kerry in recent times for granted,” he said.

“You only have to look back over your shoulder to see the amount of All-Irelands they racked up before we got going. Their titles are obviously way ahead of where Dublin are, or where we want to be – so we are a long way off in terms of what we have won and what we have done.

“The younger guys know exactly that, but I think every time we play, or every time you get into a position like this, at this stage of the year. I think what has gone on in the past isn’t really relevant. Every game takes on a life of its own, and even more so with Kerry. It’s going to be no different next week.

“For us a huge amount of work went in after the Donegal game looking towards Kerry and looking back at those tapes. For us we need to try and figure out what way they have played.

“The league final was one particular game. I don’t think we can dwell on that game too much looking into this. It’s championship football, so it’s totally different.”

Much has been made of Kerry not facing Division 1 opposition in this year’s championship to date, but Bastick argues that it hasn’t been pretty for Dublin either.

“The teams that they played – they could argue the same with us, no disrespect to the teams we played in Leinster. We weren’t that convincing in Leinster. I suppose they could look at us in the same light.

“I think we know as players, that they know us and we know them. Obviously tactics will play a huge part in what way it plays out; or who is on form on a particular day.

“I think it’s a case that we try and get nuggets of information from they have previously done, but I think when the ball is thrown in then you figure it out on the spot – that’s what we need to do.”

Many neutrals will be crying out for a game of ‘good football’ and Bastick says it will be interesting to see what styles of football both teams will bring to Sunday’s game.

“It will be interesting to see what Kerry come out with. For us we will be trying to deal with the football that we want to play, and that’s really important for us. We are going to go out and try and really play a style of football that suits us and suits our team, and the way we think it should be played. If Kerry want to do something similar that’s great. We could end up seeing a great game.”

Bastick who made his senior championship debut for Dublin at the age of 28, says it’s been interesting for him readjusting from life away from the starting 15 this year.

“Everyone wants to start – there’s no beating around the bush there. Everyone wants to start on the team and get that jersey,” he said.

“For me I suppose you need to balance that off with the disappointment of not starting and what you can contribute to the team. It’s really important that whenever the decisions are made, and the team is picked that you focus really, really quickly on what your role is then. If you are not in the team what else can you do. “To be honest you can have a huge amount of impact not playing in terms of the group, and what you can contribute before, afterwards and during, even by not playing.

“That’s something I suppose that I like doing, and it gives you a bit of focus too from when you are not playing. It gives you other areas that you can actually go after when you are not playing, but all the time being ready for the guy going down injured after 30 seconds. “These things can happen and that’s what you have to be clued in for.”